The Prevention of Family Violence Bill 2018 (the Bill) was introduced to the Victorian parliament on 20 June 2018. The Bill will establish Respect Victoria – an organisation dedicated to preventing all forms of family violence – as a Statutory Authority. Establishing Respect Victoria as a Statutory Authority will fulfil Recommendation 188 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

The Strategy

The focus of this strategy is on preventing two overlapping and related forms of violence:

family violence

violence against women

The scope of this strategy is primary prevention – preventing violence before it starts by focusing on settings where inequality and violent behaviour are shaped. An effective primary prevention approach reduces pressure on other parts of the system responding to family violence and violence against women, including early intervention and crisis response.

The First action plan 2018-2021 of Free from violence details the actions the Victorian Government will take towards ending family violence and fear of violence for good. These actions establish the key structures needed to support long-term change in the prevention of family violence.

Stopping it before it starts

Family violence and violence against women are driven by gender inequality and other forms of discrimination. Stopping violence before it starts requires the whole community to drive social and cultural change. Everyone has a role to in play in challenging the drivers of violence where they live, work, learn and play.

Education of the public re [sic] violence and statements relating to violence needs to be addressed. Statements such as “it’s the alcohol that does it”, “she provoked me”, “she knows how to push my buttons” are not acceptable… Media needs to show it’s not right to denigrate any person.

[Anonymous submission to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence]

An effective primary prevention approach will support and complement early intervention and crisis response efforts by reducing pressure on these other parts of the system.

The time for change is now

Violence is unacceptable and inexcusable, yet family violence and violence against women are prevalent across Victoria.

Of women over the age of 15:

1 in 3 has experienced physical violence

1 in 4 has experienced physical or sexual violence

1 in 5 has experienced sexual violence

While there is no comprehensive data on all people who experience violence, the following Australia-wide statistics prove the urgent need for change:

every 2 minutes family violence results in a police call-out

95% of male and female victims report a male perpetrator

on average at least one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner

women are 5 times more likely than men to require hospitalisation due to family violence

Some groups of women are disproportionately affected, including those with a disability and Aboriginal women.

Far-reaching impacts

The impacts of family violence can include:

deteriorated physical and mental health

loss of housing

loss or limited access to employment

precarious financial security

isolation and alienation of extended family/social support

negative impact on development of children who witness it

death

In addition to these personal impacts, there are substantial social and economic costs. Estimates suggest that the annual cost of family violence in Victoria in 2014-15 was approximately $3.1 billion.

What can you do?

Everyone has a role to play in preventing family violence and all forms of violence against women. Watch and share Free from violence.